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My first 5K, the Mason Mini

Today was the the day of reckoning.

When I started running again in September, I decided to do it using the Couch to 5K running program because I’m the type of person that needs goals to keep motivated. So today was the day to say, “I’ve left the couch, I am now going to do a 5K.”

I started the race by making two rookie mistakes.

I neglected to charge my iPod. The gun went off, I started my watch, then hit play on the iPod, and … nothing. Completely dead.

I went out too fast. I’ll chalk it up to the excitement of my first race, but I need to remember this for future races. I went flying by double-stroller guy during mile one, then he went sailing by me during the last half of mile 2.

But, I did it. I ran the Mason Mini 5K this morning and it felt great! I wouldn’t say I set any records for pace, but it still left me feeling like it was a huge accomplishment. I ran a 30:22 with my wife and kids there to cheer me on. I felt like I was 10 feet tall.

Funny story. When we got back from the race, I took a shower, got some lunch, then settled in to watch some football. Next thing I know it’s two hours later and I was wondering where the afternoon went. I realized that I had gone from a couch to a 5K and back to the couch again! But a well-deserved rest.

UPDATE. Another funny story. A friend of mine hit me up on Facebook asking whether I had seen the Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday, the day after the race, because my picture was in it. Sure enough, there I was huffing and puffing to the finish line with an 8 year-old girl running in front of me. I said the caption should have read, “Old man Sean Brown, pictured above getting his ass handed to him by little Mary Sue Jenkins…” Another proud moment.